‘I just got off the phone with Chelle’ – Osimhen breaks silence on Chelsea, Arsenal transfer talk

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has publicly addressed the growing transfer speculation surrounding his future after comments made by Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle sparked widespread discussion, Afrik-Foot reports.

The Galatasaray forward found himself at the centre of fresh transfer rumours after Chelle explained why the striker was left out of Nigeria’s upcoming international friendlies against Poland and Portugal.

Speaking after Nigeria’s successful Unity Cup campaign in London, the Super Eagles coach revealed that Victor Osimhen would not be joining the squad for the June fixtures as he focuses on matters relating to his club future.

“We miss two players because Victor Osimhen maybe he is about to change club, so I prefer he stays at home because if he plays and is not at 100 percent is not good,” Chelle said.

The coach’s remarks quickly spread across social media and football platforms, with many interpreting them as a sign that a transfer could be close.

Osimhen, who recently completed another outstanding season with Turkish champions Galatasaray, has been linked with several major European clubs in recent months. Reports have connected the Nigerian striker with possible moves to Chelsea, Arsenal, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, making every comment about his future a major talking point.

What Victor Osimhen said about Chelle’s comments

As speculation intensified, the 27-year-old decided to address the issue himself.

The former Napoli striker revealed that he had spoken directly with Chelle after the interview and insisted that the coach’s comments had been misunderstood.

Taking to his Instagram Story, Osimhen wrote:

“I just got off the phone with Coach Eric Chelle regarding the comments about me in his recent interview.

“Unfortunately, his words have been taken out of context and blown out of proportion. He has great respect for Galatasaray, follows most of our games, and never intended to create any controversy.

“I appreciate the conversation, the opportunity to always represent my country, and I look forward to continuing to work with him. He is a great coach whom I respect a lot, and I kindly ask everyone to disregard the speculation surrounding this matter.

“Thank you for your consistent support.”

The controversy emerged just hours after Nigeria completed a successful Unity Cup campaign.

The Super Eagles defeated Jamaica 3-0 in the final at The Valley in Charlton, London, retaining the trophy in convincing fashion. Chelle used the tournament to test several new players and continue the rebuilding process of the national team.

Osimhen, Nigeria’s second all-time highest goalscorer, remains the Super Eagles first-choice striker.

The former Lille forward enjoyed another fine season in Turkey after joining Galatasaray permanently in the summer of 2025. He played a leading role as the Istanbul giants successfully defended their Turkish Super Lig title.